News Briefs (March 1, 2014)Yell County Retired Teachers meeting The Yell County Retired Teachers meeting will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Tarasco’s in Dardanelle. Lesley Nelms, district director for the 4th Congressional District, will be the speaker. Archaeological Society meeting The Arkansas River Valley Chapter of the Arkansas Archaeological Society will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Arkansas Tech Museum, located at the Techionery on the ATU campus. The program, ...

RHS Band to perform with Liverpool LegendsThe Russellville High School (RHS) band will perform back-up for the Liverpool Legends during the group's April 1 concert at The Center for the Arts. Marty Scott, who portrays George Harrison in the band, said the audience will be surprised. "This is not a high school production," he said. "It's a Broadway-quality show being backed by the students from the high school." Liverpool Legends is a tribute band to The Beatles. The group, which was f...

ALE works toward therapy dogDOVER — The Dover School District's Alternative Learning Environment (ALE) program is gathering information and sponsors to move forward to obtain a therapy dog. ALE students, led by Alex Flores, gave the school board a presentation of their research during Thursday's board meeting. "They deserve to have this," Deborah Starr, ALE instructor, said. "They have worked so hard." The board expressed its unanimous support of the idea, but took no ac...

Family encourages blood, platelet donationsThe family of a young cancer patient with a rare blood type — AB negative — is seeking blood and platelet donations. Morgan Schwehm, 2, was diagnosed with nueroblastoma, a cancer that develops around immature nerve cells, in September 2013, after complaining of abdominal pain. "Despite initial doctor visits that didn't reveal much, she was losing her appetite and a lot of weight. When the day came she didn't want to play because her stomach hu...

Dover told to address deficienciesDOVER — Superintendent Jerry Owens and Board President Michael Robbins met Tuesday with the Arkansas Department of Education’s (ADE) Division of Public School Academic Facilities to discuss the possibility of conducting a third and final election on a millage increase to fund renovations and construction at the middle school. ADE officials told Owens and Robbins the district must address deficiencies in the middle school, and especially the mi...

Dardanelle council seeks declaratory judgmentDARDANELLE — The Dardanelle City Council voted to seek a declaratory judgment about what constitutes "livelihood commercial use" when considering livestock in the city limits with a 3-2 vote during a called meeting Tuesday. Aldermen Bruce McConnell and Kenneth Taylor voted against the measure. Aldermen Kenny George and Scott Moore and Alderwoman Julia Ann Taylor voted in favor, and Alderwoman Linda Thompson was absent. City Attorney Ken Helton...

2014 State of the City addressEditor's note: Russellville Mayor Bill Eaton delivered his annual State of the City address during Thursday's city council meeting. The full text of his remarks is published below. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the City Council chambers of Russellville, a great place to live, work, play and raise a family. This is the 2014 State of the City address. For the past three years we have seen a slowly improving economy, one that continues to make...

Body recovered from Arkansas River Area law enforcement and emergency personnel recovered the body of a male from the Arkansas River near the Sweeden Island Park area Saturday morning. Pope County Sheriff Aaron DuVall told The Courier that a body was discovered in the river near the Sweeden Island Park area around 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The body had no identification, but a pair of blue jeans and a cell phone were discovered. The sheriff said the body was turned over to Pope Count...

Commission talks precinct realignmentElection Coordinator Sherry Polsgrove showed the Pope County Election Commission a proposed precinct realignment during its regular meeting Thursday. Several precincts in Pope County have fewer than 10 registered voters and one precinct has only two, Polsgrove said. Pope County is currently divided into 56 precincts, and the proposed realignment would leave 47 precincts. “We want to save money and better use our available equipment,” Polsgrove...

PCLS ponders fundingBobby Roberts, Central Arkansas Library System director, presented the Pope County Library System (PCLS) Board of Trustees with bond options and laws during its regular meeting Wednesday. Roberts explained that bond millage is a voter-approved millage and requires 100 signatures before it goes to the Quorum Court and Election Commission for approval. “Bond millage can be used for a wider range of things, such as building or expanding libraries...

Coalition to apply for $125,000 grantThe River County Prevention Coalition (RVPC) Executive Board approved applying for a $125,000 Drug-Free Communities grant during its regular meeting Tuesday. "The focus will be on prescription drugs, underage drinking and tobacco use," board member Janet Cook said. If the RVPC is awarded the grant, the funding will begin in September or October and will continue for five years. At the end of the five-year term, the RVPC will have the option to...

RJHS gym to get HVACThe Russellville Junior High School (RJHS) main and auxiliary gymnasiums will have a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) unit installed over summer break. "It's a new install that is desperately needed," Nathan Barber, district business manager, said. The Russellville Board of Education voted 5-0 Tuesday to approve accepting a low bid — not to exceed $375,000 — for the project. Board member Margie Smith said she was excited to see...

RHS thespians prepare sweet performanceThe Russellville High School (RHS) Thespian Troupe is preparing for a special Showcase and Dessert Theatre at the Center for the Arts on March 3 and 4. The performances will begin at 7 p.m. both days and $10 tickets include homemade desserts and a choice of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. The event will showcase the students' acting, singing and dancing abilities. All of the performers competed at the State Thespian Festival and earned an excell...

Thomas honored at banquetLake Dardanelle State Park Superintendent Andy Thomas received the Charlie Johnson Award during the Arkansas River Valley Tri-Peaks Tourism Association’s Annual Banquet last week. Thomas, 63, was nominated and chosen from the six-county region — Pope, Yell, Johnson, Conway, Logan and Perry counties — that comprises Tri-Peaks Tourism. “I was shocked,” Thomas said. “It is a real honor to be given the Charlie Johnson award. He was a great man. To...

Dover’s next moveDOVER — The Dover Board of Education at its regular meeting Thursday will discuss its next move after voters rejected a proposed mill increase in last week’s special election. In order to conduct a third and final election on the matter, the district must get approval from the Arkansas Department of Education’s (ADE) Division of Public School Academic Facilities. In May, the district was awarded nearly $4.5 in state partnership funds for renov...

Gotcher talks snow daysThe Arkansas River Valley has experienced one of its most active winters — precipitation-wise — in recent history, causing area schools to miss days that must be made up. Many factors are used in deciding whether to close school and how to make up missed days. Atkins Superintendent Mark Gotcher said one factor in deciding whether or not to close is more important than the rest. "It's always about student safety," he said. When inclement weathe...

PJHS Quiz Bowl wins region, heads to statePOTTSVILLE — The Pottsville Junior High School (PJHS) Quiz Bowl team is preparing to compete in the state tournament after winning the regional tournament. The group will compete against 19 other teams in the junior high level at the State Quiz Bowl Tournament at Arkadelphia High School on Feb. 22. Teams from seven area schools competed in the round-robin style regional tournament at Dover High School. The top two teams from each region will m...

Free booth space at Expo availableThe River Valley Senior Networking Group is organizing the annual River Valley Health Expo, scheduled for April 11 at the Hughes Community Center in Russellville. Organizers are encouraging businesses, community groups, nonprofits and civic clubs to participate. "We want all health-related businesses and groups in the River Valley to be represented at what we hope will be a large and well-attended health event for our community," Lori Kamerlin...

Russellville native pens song for stateJeremy Huddleston, formerly of Russellville, is one of seven finalists in the Song of Arkansas competition. Huddleston, 37, said the inspiration for his song, "Here in Arkansas," are the things that he loves and misses about home. Huddleston, who grew up in Russellville and graduated from New Life Academy in 1993, moved with his wife, Misty, and their two sons to California last June to start a church. "It was actually a cool experience writin...

Dover millage failsDOVER — Voters within the Dover School District rejected a proposed 3.5-mill increase in Tuesday's special election. A total of 469 people voted against while 431 voted in favor of the proposal. The district could conduct a final election on the matter, but would have to get approval from the state first. Superintendent Jerry Owens said he didn't know if the district would try a third time. "It's too early," Owens said. "We will regroup and re...